Feed corn is used by gardeners to fatten domestic animals. It is eaten by chickens, ducks, sheep, goats and pigs. Without grain it is impossible to provide balanced nutrition for pets.
The modern gardener does not stop only at growing vegetables and fruits. He raises poultry, rabbits, and pigs on small plots. There is an opportunity to diversify the vegetable menu with livestock products.
To increase the profitability of a household, it is necessary to provide pets with a nutritious diet. The feed should include vitamins, minerals, and protein.This cannot be achieved without feed corn.
Feed grain is used to fatten animals before slaughter. In winter, it is from it that animals receive energy to heat their bodies. A thrifty owner always has a supply of corn.
What is feed grain?
Any grain crop is divided into 2 main parts: feed (fodder) and food. The product differs from each other in several key indicators:
- In kind. This is the mass of 1 liter of grain in grams. Products that have not gone through all stages of development are sent for fodder. Not applicable for corn.
- Humidity. Evaluated during cleaning. If the indicator value is higher than the established norm (12%), the grain is classified as feed.
- Clogging. During cleaning, the percentage of foreign matter is determined. Exceeding transfers the crop to the fodder category.
Feed grain must be absolutely safe for animals. If desired, the gardener can eat it. Feed made from it cannot contain molds, poisonous plants or harmful impurities.
Value of corn as fodder
Feed corn is popular all over the world. This is determined by its composition. It consists of:
- starch - 70%;
- fat - 4%;
- protein - up to 9%.
The grain contains vitamins B, PP, A, E. A small percentage of fiber increases the digestibility of the grain. The lack of amino acids (tryptophan and lysine) in the protein is compensated by the high content of zein. This is enough for successful fattening of animals.
Energy value: 100 g of corn equals 143 feed units. For complete absorption, maize grains should be given crushed or ground.
How to distinguish feed corn from food corn?
A gardener must be able to distinguish feed corn from food corn.This is necessary to reduce the cost of animal feed and increase the profitability of dacha farming.
Varieties of feed corn from food corn can be easily distinguished by the following characteristics:
- Region of growth. Forage is grown in areas with a temperate (cool) climate. Food - in warm.
- Seed color. Forage corn varieties have rich yellow or orange grains. Food grade is light beige.
- Taste. Boiled fodder will turn out to be tough and lacking in juiciness. Food - sugar, soft.
- The shape and size of the cobs. Heads of food corn are shorter and thicker than heads of feed corn.
There is a folk way of determining the type of culture. You should take one grain and crush it with your nails. If the seed bursts without effort, and white milky juice remains on the fingers, it is a food crop. If the skin is difficult to crumple, but does not tear, it is fodder.
The type of edible corn is sweet corn. It is often grown in garden plots. Harvested at the stage of milk maturity. The gardener should know: after harvesting, such a crop is stored for less than 2 weeks. After collection, it is immediately processed (frozen, canned). Having purchased a large batch for future use, you will not be able to save it.
How to store?
Often a gardener purchases a large batch of feed corn for an occasion. The purchase price is favorable. It will significantly increase the profitability of livestock farming. But the question arises: how to preserve the crop for a long time without loss.
The rules are usual:
- husk the cobs;
- dry the crop in a ventilated place (under a canopy);
- lay in storage in a layer of 20–30 cm;
- maintain the temperature around 6 degrees Celsius;
- ensure adequate ventilation;
- control air humidity (maximum hygrometer reading - 17%);
- check the moisture content of the stored grain (it should not exceed 12%);
- provide protection from rodents (mice, rats).
Differences in temperature and humidity will lead to loss of stored grain. Some gardeners, due to lack of space in their basements, store feed corn in bags. In this case, it is necessary to check the moisture content of the grain once a week. Ventilation in the basement should provide ventilation.
How to provide a seed fund?
Some gardeners have enough planting space. They want to grow their own feed corn. They are interested in the question: is it possible to use corn seeds previously purchased for fodder for sowing?
Plants that have not completed the full development cycle are often used for feed grain. The embryos of such seeds are weak and immature. They will give a low yield. To obtain complete feed grain, you should purchase certified seeds from a trusted manufacturer.
Competent sellers of planting material treat it with chemicals. This increases germination and protects against pests. It is difficult for gardeners themselves to carry out such an operation.
How to use forage crops?
The use of feed maize depends on the type of country livestock farming. When fattening poultry, maize is added to feed mixtures. Chickens and ducks gain weight quickly. Feed maize should not exceed 40% in the poultry diet. As the indicator increases, animals accumulate fat.
Grain is part of the laying hen's diet. It is absorbed almost completely. Has high energy value. But when overfeeding, the activity of laying hens decreases. Their egg production drops. 20% of the total amount of feed by weight is a sufficient norm in egg farming.
When fattening piglets, the specified amount of culture should also be strictly observed. Its excess leads to an increase in the fat layer of the animal. The meat becomes watery and tasteless. When determining the norm, the amount of feed corn in the feed should be taken into account.
Overfeeding breeding animals with culture is undesirable. The activity of males decreases. They get fat and stop being interested in females. This reduces the volume of commodity production.
In winter, the amount of feed corn in the diet is slightly increased (maximum by 10-15%). Food enriched with maize allows animals to withstand cold weather without loss.
